Michael Halprin, Buprenorphine Trafficking, Nevada 2019

Las Vegas, NV - In a shocking turn of events, a federal grand jury has unsealed an indictment charging an unlicensed advance nurse practitioner, two doctors, and two others for conspiring to distribute buprenorphine, a Schedule III Controlled Substance.

The indictment, announced by United States Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse for the FBI's Las Vegas Division, names Michael Halprin, 68, an unlicensed APRN in Las Vegas, Nevada; Chad Hall, D.O., 39, of Las Vegas; Ronald Smith, M.D., 50, of Las Vegas; Janell Olson, 49, of Las Vegas; and Eghomware Igbinovia, a/k/a Jerry Igbinovia, 44, of Las Vegas.

The defendants are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and with distributing buprenorphine, an opioid classified as a Schedule III controlled substance. Halprin, Hall, and Olson are also charged with distribution of Valium, a Schedule IV controlled substance. Halprin, Hall, Smith, and Olson are also charged with obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation and Halprin and Hall are charged additionally with maintaining a drug-involved premises.

According to the indictment, the maximum penalty for maintaining a drug-involved premises is 20 years in custody and a fine of $500,000. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to distribute and distributing buprenorphine is 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of $500,000. The maximum penalty for distributing Valium is five years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. The maximum penalty for obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation is four years and a fine of $250,000.

The joint investigation was conducted by the FBI; DEA; and Nevada State Board of Pharmacy. In 2017, the U.S. Attorney's Office funded a dedicated opioid prosecutor to the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Nadia Ahmed.

Halprin and Olson were arrested and will make their initial appearance in federal court in Melbourne, Florida today. Smith and Igbinovia were arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada and are scheduled to make their initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Nancy J. Koppe today. Hall is expected to make his initial appearance in Reno, Nevada on June 21, 2019.

An indictment is merely an allegation and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The U.S. Attorney's Office will target and prosecute doctors who illegally dispense addictive opioids, thus placing personal greed above the health and safety of his or her patients, said US Attorney Trutanich.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while increased therapeutic use of buprenorphine may help reduce prescription opioid abuse and misuse, nontherapeutic or inappropriate use of buprenorphine can cause serious and potentially life-threatening effects among children and adults.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nv/pr/las-vegas-doctors-unlicensed-nurse-and-two-others-arrested-and-indicted-trafficking